Box-sealing machine.



Nn. 534,805. Patented um. m, |899.

' a. 1..-cRAw.

"BDXSEALING MACHINE.

(Application led. in. 14, 1899.)

3 Shards- Sheet (la Model.)

/N VEA/70H lBY A rroNE ys'.

no. 634,805. Y Patenfed'oenlmylsss.

J. T. GRAW.

BOX SEALIIIG MACHHIE. (Appxiwian am im. 14, m99.) (lo Model.) 3 Sheik- Sheet 2.

l fg

/N VEN TOR A TTURNEY w: mams uns no woraumn sumaron o c r No. 634,805. Patented Oct-10, |899. A A .1. T. cnAw.

BOX SEALIHG MACHINE.

(Apphent n ledmr 14 1899.)

ashets-sheer g.

(Re Model.)

A TTUHNE YS.

` 'Um-TED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH T. CRAW, or JERSEYV CITY, NEW JERSEY, AssIeNoR o FoNE-HALE To RoBERrr. BROWNAND EDWARD L. BAILEY,

PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION QF PHLADELPHIA ecpn-SEAIgHNI el MACHINE.

forming part'of Letters Patent No. 634,805, dated October 10, 1899. Applicatie-urna m5101114, ia99. serial No. 708,991. (Nomade.) l

Tov all who@ it newyfoonpcern: ,I Beit known. that 1,' .I osEPH T. GRAW, of'

Jersey City, 'in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,` have invented a new and` useful Improvement'in Means for Sealing Pa'- per Boxes, of which the following `is a full, clear, and exact description. yThe object of my invention is to so seal flaps of papel` boxes that said boxes. will be 1o siftless, thus particularly adapting thein vto hold sugar or other fine engr-anular material, and, further, to accomplish such object by a very simple, inexpensive, and readily-applied means. I Y

Another object ot the invention is to provide means for applying a sealing compound, such as glue or gum, to the top Vand bottomsurfaces of a sealing-strip or to a series of connected strips capable of ready-separation.v4

Afurther object of the invention is to-soy construct a form or casing that one or a num-- berof empty7 boxes or nfilled boxes may be-received and held therein and the sealing-strips simultaneously applied to ally of the boxes at z 5 one end and whereby all 'of the boxes inthe casing at one end and the flaps of all of the boxes at such end maybe simultaneously andsiftlessly sealed.l L

Another object of the invention is to so con- 3o struct the individual 'devices that they may be used either alone or collectively, as they preferably are,vand be attended by a single person. Y f

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims. v

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, 4o in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a side elevation of the device adapted toapplythe adhesive material to the strips and a side elevation of a portion ot' the table upOnWhiCh said device is supportedtogether with a side elevation of a form or casingadapted vto hold the paper boxes to be.y

sealed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. l. Y Fig. 3 is a plan view of the conneeted-sealing-strips having adhesive ma-V ;terial applied thereto. Fig. Liis an enlarged vseetional view of the device for applying the vadhesive material, taken lthrough a portion of the glue-pot and'longitudinally through connected sealingstri ps and the supports for the glued or gnmmed strips and also transverseiy through the rolls forapplying the gum the" flor glue, Vthe section being takenjpractically onv the line at 4 ot Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is atransed verse'section taken-practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. Gis a perspective view ofthe -form or casing adapted to receive the box es, illustrating empty boxes contained in said Lform or casing ready to receive a sealing-stri p lat one end. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the form `creasing shown inFig. 6, illustrating the ap- ;plieation of the sealing-strip to the inner {iap's of the'box, a portion of the sealing-strip be- ;ing broken'away.V Fig. 8 is an end view of .theform orv casing, .partlyT in section, illus 4trating the Iiaps of the boxes shown in Figs. `6y and 7 as held in sealing engagement with the sealing-strips passed over the boxes and the application of 4weighted Wings to the outer flaps of the boxes. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an empty box located upon a block, Qthetlapsat the end to besealed being in the position they occupy when an empty box is Vplaced in the form or casing. Fig. 10 is a perspective view vof abox sealed at both ends in the improved manner; and Fig.- ll isa7 perspective View ofthe sealed endof a box, one of the outer flaps being broken away tov disclose the sealing-strip.

A represents a table supported b v'suitable legs 10, and B a glue pot-or trough located upon said table, preferably-'at one side near one end.- The pot B is provided with adouble bottom 1i, forming asteamspace l2, and at'the central portion of each side of the glue pot or trough an angular or L-shaped vstandard 13 is constructed, the vertical member of each'standard having a vertical slot lfifmade therein and the horizontal member a horizontal slot l5; but the slots in the members do 95 standard, and said boxes 15 are adjusted through the medium of screws 15" or their equivalents, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The trunnions 16 of aroller 17 are mounted in the boxes 14, said roller turning partially within the trough or glue-pot, as shown best in Fig. 4. This roller17is usually made solid, and its periphery is corrugated or provided with a series of annular grooves 1S, as shown in Fig. 5, and the material 19, forming the peripheral surface of the roller, is made of felt, rubber, leather, or other material that is a good conductor of glue.

The scraper or doctor 20 is in the form of a roller, and the trunnions of this roller are mounted in the boxes 15:. The peripheral surface of the doctor-roller 2O is corrugated or provided with annular grooves, and said grooves-in the doctor-roller alternate with the grooves in the take-up roller 17 for the glue. The roller 2O prevents the glue from buckling at the upper face of the roller and is intended to govern the amount of glue that is to be presented to the strips to which application is to be made. A roller 21 is located above the take-up roller 17. The upper roller 21 is likewise provided with a corrugated periphery or annular grooves 22, the grooves in the peripheries of the two rollers being made to coincide. The upper roller 21 is hollow, and its peripheral surface 23 is made usually ofthe same material as the peripheral surface 19 of the lower roller 17. A bushing 24 is placed centrally in each end of the upper roller 21, and the shaft 25 for said upper roller extends out through the bushings and is hollow and perforated within the roller, as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 25 forms a continuation of tubular side arms 2G, and said side arms are connected by swing-joints 26 with pipes 27 and 27a,supported by standards 2S, said'standards being secured to the table near the rear portion of the glue pot or trough. The pipe 27 extends downward through the table and beneath it to a connection with a steam-supply pipe 29, which latter pipe is made to enter the steam -chamber 12 of said glue pot or trougli,while the pipe 27 is an exhaust-pipe and after being carried through the table is disposed in any suitable or approved manner. Thus it will be observed that the Lipper roller may be raised and lowered, and said upper roller 21 when in its lower position is adapted to distribute glue upon the upper face of a strip or tape 35 of paper fed from any suitable source of supply, while the lower roller distributes glue upon the under face of the strip. The strip or tape of paper, as shown in Fig. 3, is divided. by perfor-ations Z) into a number of small strips 35, each of said strips being of corresponding size to the area of the end portion of a box to be sealed.

The paper is supported before it reaches the gluing-rollers by means of a table 29,, suitably sustained, and after the paper is coated with glue it is supported by a horizontal rack 30, which rack is supported from the sides of the glue pot or trough through tho medium of uprights 31. The rack 30 consists of two side bars c, that are removable from the uprights, and cross-bars c', which crossbars may be readily attached to the side bars or made to turn therein, or they may simply rest on said side bars, so that the rack may lbe removed when necessary, placed in hot water, and thoroughly cleaned from any glue that may adhere thereto.

Standards 32 are secured to the sides of the glue pot or trough between the rack 30 and the rollers 17 and 21. These standards are connected by lcross-bars 33, (shown in Fig. 4,) and each cross-bar 33 is provided with a series of fingers 34. These fingers enter the grooves in the upper and in the lower gluingrollers and at their free ends come quite close together, and the opposing surfaces of the fingers at their free ends are more or less beveled. The glue-coated material passes between the lingers and is prevented by said fingers from clinging to the rollers and being carried around by them.

A belt 36 is located opposite the inner end of the glue pot or trough, as shown in Fig. 2. This belt is made to turn over rollers 37, extending upward through suitable openings in the table, the top strand of the belt being about iiush with the table and the lower strand being below the table, as shown in Fig. 1. The trunnions of the rollers 37 are journaled in suitable bearings 38, secured to the under surface of the table. A second belt 39 is located upon the table parallel to the belt 36, which latter belt is made to pass over rollers 40, extending up through suitable openings in the table, the trunnions of the rollers 40 turning in bearings 41 at the under surface of the table. The two belts'36 and 39 move in opposite directions, the upper strand of the belt 36 traveling toward the gluing mechanism, while the upper strand of the belt 39 travels away from the gluing mechanism, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

A form or casing C is used in connection with the gluing device. This form or casing C, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and S, usuallyconsists, mainly, of a base 42 and sides 43, secured to the base in such manner that the space between the sides will snugly fit and receive a box whose ends are to be sealed, and each form or casing is generally made of such length that it will accommodate ve boxes. A latch 44 is located at each end of the form or casing C, being pivoted to the end portion of one side and arranged to engage with a keeper 45 on the end portion of the opposite side. The form or casing is provided with a cover made in two sections 46 and 47, the section 4G being wider than the section 47, and each section is provided with a weight 48, secured to its upper surface. The sections of the cover have a hinged connection with opposite side faces of the form or casing C, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8, and may be carried to an upright position, as shown in posi` IOO IIO

Y -tivo'lines in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig.

8,- or theV sections of the cover maybe carried to a horizontal position, thus closingl the l,upper surface of` thefform or easing,-as illustrated in Fig. 8. A. Y 'l -The form or casing 'C is made in two sizes, the dierence being in the height; The higherl fornror casing is adapted to receiveeinpty boxes, oneend of which is to be closed,while the lower style of form' or casing is adapted to receive boxes that have been iilled. Vhenv an end of an empty box is to be closed, .ablock Eis introduced into said box. rlhis block-is longer than the box, including the width of the flaps at one end, as is shown in Fig. 9.' When al block has been placedin an empty box,the inner flaps 49 and 50 of the box being treated are folded down upon the body of the box by the fingers of the-operator, the

outer flaps 51 'and 52 being left in a Vert-ical position. This disposition of the iiaps is made only at one 'end of the box that is to be sealed,as

o the block holds all the iiaps at the other end of said box in a vertical position. The boxes and their flaps are introduced into a form or ,casing adapted to receive them, the wings or sections of the'cover of the form or casing being open, as shown in Figo, and the form or left closed, while 'the other latch is opened.

' Upon closing the opened latchA all of the boxes cannot possibly shift.

in the form will be held in close contactand The operator will now reach up to the tray 30 and .will remove therefrom tive connected strips, which have been coated with glue upon both faces. These connected strips are laid upon the folded flaps 49 and 50 at the uppermost ends of the boxes, and each strip 35"L is of such size that it will extend not only to an engagement with the side edges of a box, but likewise to apositive engagement with the inner faces of the upright outer flaps 5l and 52 of the box. The coated strips having been placed in. position on the boxes the narrower-section 47 of the cover is carried downward, taking with it, for example, the outer flaps 5l of theboxes, press-y ing said outer iiaps firmly against the upper faces of the sealing-strips 35. The operator` maynow readily see whether or not the flaps are properly connected with the sealingstrips. wider section 46 of the cover is pressed downward, carrying downwardly with it the outer daps 52, as shown in Fig. 8. Each set of flaps at each'end is so cut that when a set of ap's is folded said flaps will not overlap, but theiropposing edges will be brought quite Being satistied on this point, the

close together, as shown in Fig. l0. Thus it'.

lwill be observed an upper and a lower iiat coatedwith glue upon both sides rests be tween the innerand outer end naps of the box, gluing said flaps together, and not only closing anyspace that may existwhere the iiaps meet, but also where the outer iiaps connect with the body of the box, rendering the box perfectly siftless when sealed.

v When the empty boxes in one 4form have been sealed at one end, said form is carried near to the inner end of the belt 39; and v'left standing for awhile, and a second form that. is substituted for the form removed is lled with empty boxes with their blocks', and thel operation of closing the endsof saidboxes is accomplished in the manner above stated. When the second form has been filled and the upper endsoi' the boxes therein sealed, the latch 44 next to the belt 39 on the form iirst filled is opened, and the boxes and blocks are forced out of the form iirst filled onto the belt 39. The second form is vthen carried toward the belt, and the form iirst manipulated is rcrnoved from near the belt and is'again carried into position to be tilled. v The boxes and the blocks contained therein are carried by the belt 39 to the person whose duty it is to lfl the boxes with material. This 'person removes the blocks from the boxes and places them on the belt 36, which carries the blocks toward the gluing device and within Y easy .reach of the person superintending the seal` ing of the empty boxes. The lled boxes may be placed upon the belt 36 and carried toward 'the gluing device or they may be carried toward al second gluing-device at the opposite end of the table. However, after the boxes have beenfilled they are cared for by an attendant Who places themin a form adapted to receive them,the inner flaps being turned down upon the material in the boxes, and this person will conduct the operation of sealingve filled boxes at one time and in the same manner as the person who seals the ends of five empty boxes at one operation.

The material that is fed to the rollers of the gluing device is in tape form, each tape consisting, preferably, of five or more sealing strips, and any suitable mechanism may be employed for revolving the rollers, and after a strip has been drawn between the rollers said rollers will revolve in contact with each other, and in this manner glue will be transferred f roin the lower roller to the upper roller in sufficient quantities ,to properly coat the tape of sealing-strips. It will be understood that the lower roller may be rotated by a band X,operated from any suitable source of power, or by hand, if desired, the said roller imparting motion to the upper roller by means of intermeshing cogs Y, andany suitable means maybe employed for imparting motion to the conveyer-belts 56 and 39. Y

IOO

IIO

.each formed with a vertical and horizontal slot, a take-up roller journaled in boxes slidably fitted in the vertical slots whereby the said roller may be raised and lowered, and a doctor-roller journaled in boxes slid ably iitted in the horizontal slots whereby said doctorroller may be brought in contact with the take-up l'oller when the latter is at different elevations, as set forth.

2. In a machine for the purpose described, a glue-pot, a take-up roller mounted to rotate partially'within and partially without said glue-pot, and formed with a series of annular grooves on its periphery, and a doctQr-roller mounted adjacent said takeup roller and formed with a series of annular grooves on its periphery alternating with the grooves in the take-up roller, as set forth.

In a mechanism for sealing the flaps of paper boxes, a glue-pot, a takeup roller mounted to revolve partially Within and partially Without the glue-pot, a doctor for said take-up roller, a second roller located above and arranged for contact with the take-up roller, means, substantially as described, for heating the upper roller, and guide-fingers converging at a point in front of and between said rollers, the material to be coated being adapted to pass between said ingers when leaving said rollers, as described.

4. In a mechanism for sealing the flaps of paper boxes, a steam-heated glue-pot, a takeup roller mounted to revolve partially within and partially'without said glue-pot, the periphery of said take-up roller being provided with annular grooves, a similarly-grooved hollow roller located above the take-up roller and adapted for engagement with the upper surface of the same, a doctor for the take-up roller, means for supplying steam to the gluepot and to theinterior of the upper roller, and guide-fingers arranged to receive the material passed between and coated by said rollers, as set forth.

5. In a machine for the purpose described, a glue-pot, a take-up roller mounted to rotate partially within and partially Without said glue-pot and formed with aseries of annular grooves on its periphery, and a second roller arranged for engagement with the take-up roller and formed with a'series of annular grooves in its periphery coinciding with the grooves in the take-up roller, as set forth.

G. In a machine for the purpose described, a glue-pot, a steam-supply pipe for said gluepot, a take-upk roller mounted to rotate with its periphery in said glue-pot, a hollow roller above said take-up roller and arranged for engagement with the latter and tubular side arms having their forward ends journaled in said hollow roller, the rear ends of said arms having a swing-joint connection with a branch pipe leading from the steam-supply pipe, as set forth.

7. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination with the gluing devices, of a support for the paper after it has left said gluing devices, said support comprising a horizontal rack formed of uprights, side bars removably resting on said uprights, and crossbars connecting said side bars, as set forth.

S. In a machine for the purpose described, i

the combination with the gluing-rollers, of standards located adjacent said rollers, crossbars connecting said standards, and a series of fingers secured to each cross-bar and arranged to receive the paper between them as it passes between the said rollers, as set forth. I

JOSEPH T. CRAWV. Vitnesses:

J. FRED. AcKER, EvERARD BOLTON MARSH-ALL. 

